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Police Force Changes & Utility Costs

Wednesday, January 14, 1998
  • Utility Billing Outsourced:

    The city approved a 10-year contract to outsource billing and related services for Austin's utilities to a company based in Colorado.
  • Significant Costs:

    This contract included up to $4.5 million for implementation and an estimated $4.5 million annually for ongoing billing services.
  • Future Review for In-House Services:

    Despite outsourcing, the Council directed staff to analyze during the first year of the contract whether these utility services could eventually be managed internally.
  • Police Department Staffing Adjusted:

    The Austin Police Department saw updates to its classified positions, creating and eliminating certain roles.

Full Transcript

Betournay, Ginette From: Franklin, Ann Sent: Monday, May 17, 2004 2:02 PM To: Noak, Rita; Hart, Robin; Betournay, Ginette Page 1 of 1 Subject: Amendment to Worksession It has come to my attention that there is an error in the ordinance numbers for items 10 and 11 for the January 14, 1998 Council Worksession. Please make the following corrections as indicated in red. Thanks, Ann 10. Approve a resolution authorizing execution of a ten-year contract with EN ABLE, Lakewood, Colorado, to provide billing and related services for the City's utilities, in amounts not to exceed $4.5 million for implementation and $1.18 per bill per active account per month for an estimated yearly billing fee of $4,545,360, with the provision of additional production services at a yearly cost not to exceed $150,000. (Funding in the amount of $4,500,000 was included in the 1997-98 Capital Budget of the Electric Utility. Funding for the amounts required to produce utility bills each year thereafter will be contingent upon available funding in future operating budgets of the Electric Utility.) Best proposal of ten. No M/WBE Subcontracting opportunities were identified. (Recommended by Electric Utility Commission and Water and Wastewater Commission) Resolution No. 980114-10 approved with friendly amendment by Councilmember Goodman to give direction to staff to analyze during first year of the contract to determine whether this could be taken in-house, on Mayor Pro Tem Garcia's motion, Councilmember Spelman's second, 6-1 vote, Councilmember Slusher voting "NO". Police 11. Amend Ordinance No. 971204-C, by establishing the classifications and positions in the classified service of the Austin Police Department; creating and eliminating certain classified positions. (Funding is available in the 1997-98 Operating Budget of the Police Department.) Ordinance No. 980114-A approved on Mayor Pro Tem Garcia's motion, Councilmember Goodman's second, 7-0 vote. 5/18/2004